119-s647

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 647 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 647

 To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire 
 research centers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 20, 2025

 Mr. Lujan (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Sheehy, and Mr. Padilla) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire 
 research centers, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire 
Research Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
 Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration.

    (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
 ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
 Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
 Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
 Senate;
        (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
 Technology, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the 
 Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
 Representatives; and
            (C) any other committee of Congress with the 
 authority to facilitate the development of wildland 
 fire research.

    (3) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Center 
 Coordination Board established by 

section 3
            (c) (1) .

    (4) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the 
 meaning given that term in 

section 3 of the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

    (5) Chief.--The term ``Chief'' means the Chief of the 
 Forest Service.

    (6) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Wildland Fire 
 Leadership Council established by the Secretary of the Interior 
 and the Secretary of Agriculture.

    (7) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
 agency'' has the meaning given that term in 

section 103

    (f) of 
 the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
 6623

    (f) ).

    (8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 4 of the Indian Self-
 Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

    (9) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
 term in 

section 101

    (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) ).

    (10) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term 
 ``land-grant colleges and universities'' has the meaning given 
 that term in 

section 1404 of the National Agricultural 
 Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
 3103).

    (11) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
 serving institution'' means an institution defined in any of 
 paragraphs

    (1) through

    (7) of 

section 371

    (a) of the Higher 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q

    (a) ).

    (12) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 2 of the Energy 
 Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

    (13) Regional center.--The term ``regional center'' means a 
 regional wildland fire research center established under 
 

section 3.

    (14) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means a time range 
 between 3 months and 2 years.

    (15) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Commerce.

    (16) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means a time 
 range between 2 weeks and 3 months.

    (17) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
 has the meaning given that term in 

section 4 of the Indian 
 Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
 5304).

    (18) Wildland fire.--The term ``wildland fire'' means any 
 non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels 
 and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition 
 or prescribed fire.

    (19) Wildland fire management agencies.--The term 
 ``wildland fire management agencies'' means--
        (A) the Forest Service;
        (B) the Bureau of Land Management;
            (C) the National Park Service;
            (D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
 and
        (E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    (20) Wildland fire research.--The term ``wildland fire 
 research'' means research to better understand--
        (A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires, 
 including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that 
 increase the risk of catastrophic events;
        (B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires, 
 including fires in the wildland-urban interface;
            (C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for 
 wildland fires;
            (D) the impact of wildland fires on public health, 
 safety, and the environment;
        (E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected 
 ecosystems after wildland fires; and
        (F) the development of mitigation strategies and 
 techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire 
 managers and firefighters.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
Administrator and the Chief, shall establish a competitive process for 
the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research 
centers in accordance with subsection

    (b) .

    (b) Selection and Establishment of Regional Centers.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than 
 7 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and 
 universities at which to establish a regional center to 
 coordinate the development of wildland fire research.

    (2) Criteria for selection.--
        (A) In general.--In establishing a regional center 
 at an institution of higher education or land-grant 
 college or university under this section, the Secretary 
 shall prioritize the selection of institutions, 
 colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one 
 of the following criteria:
            (i) Have existing programs of record in 
 wildland fire research.
            (ii) Have existing partnerships with 
 research institutions of the Federal Government 
 and other academic institutions and entities 
 relating to wildland fire research.
            (iii) Participate in or lead a program 
 under the Joint Fire Science Program.
            (iv) Are a minority-serving institution.
        (B) Regions.--The Secretary shall establish not 
 fewer than one regional center in each of the following 
 regions of the United States:
            (i) Alaska.
            (ii) California.
            (iii) The Northern Rockies.
            (iv) The Pacific Northwest.
            (v) The Pacific Islands.
            (vi) The Southeast.
            (vii) The Southwest.

    (3) === Purpose ===
-Each regional center, with respect to the 
 region covered by the regional center, shall--
        (A) to the extent practical, coordinate research 
 with other wildland fire research entities, such as 
 other academic institutions, the Environmental 
 Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the 
 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
 Department of Energy, the United States Geological 
 Survey, and State and regional research organizations;
        (B) improve the understanding of wildland fire 
 through wildland fire research that can be applied by 
 wildland fire management agencies;
            (C) develop technologies and other tools to 
 understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, 
 including--
            (i) models to predict fire potential and 
 the spread and behavior of wildland fire and 
 smoke;
            (ii) models to predict how vegetation will 
 respond to changes in the environment and 
 wildland fire;
            (iii) the integration of technologies to 
 predict the spread and behavior of wildland 
 fire and smoke in as near-real-time as 
 possible; and
            (iv) other innovations to be integrated 
 into operational decision support systems 
 relating to wildland fire;
            (D) develop technologies and other tools to safely 
 support land treatments to reduce the severity of 
 wildland fire;
        (E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the 
 impact of smoke on communities and wildland 
 firefighters;
        (F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to 
 the landscape, including flash flooding potential and 
 watershed impacts;
        (G) test and operate models to support land 
 management decision-making, including through--
            (i) operating models to support management 
 of wildland fire and vegetation;
            (ii) the demonstration of integration 
 technologies to support management of wildland 
 fire in as near-real-time as possible; and
            (iii) the incorporation of decision science 
 and social science that examines the perception 
 and adoption of information related to wildland 
 fire risk;
        (H) develop a career pathway training program with 
 respect to carrying out wildland fire research;
            (I) develop data management protocols to allow for 
 full and open exchange of data pursuant to the 
 principles of findability, accessibility, 
 interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to 
 as the ``FAIR principles'') and archive and access that 
 data; and
        (J) make its work and data fully and openly 
 available.
            (c) National Center Coordination Board.--

    (1) Establishment.--There is established a coordination 
 board, to be known as the ``National Center Coordination 
 Board''.

    (2) Composition.--
        (A) Members.--
            (i) In general.--The Board shall be 
 composed of one member representing each 
 regional center.
            (ii) Appointment.--Each member under clause
            (i) shall be selected by the relevant regional 
 center.
        (B) Chair.--The Administrator and the Chief shall 
 serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board.

    (3) Duties.--The Board shall--
        (A) establish wildland fire science, data 
 management, and sharing protocols, and technological 
 research priorities in cooperation with each regional 
 center and informed by the operational needs of 
 wildland fire management agencies;
        (B) coordinate data collection efforts supporting 
 the efforts of each regional center, including--
            (i) building data layers across each region 
 described in subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) ; and
            (ii) providing updates on the development 
 of wildland fire research models;
            (C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid 
 unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the 
 regional centers and the activities of institutions of 
 higher education, land-grant colleges and universities, 
 Federal science agencies, and State research 
 organizations with respect to wildland fire research, 
 including--
            (i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration;
            (ii) the National Laboratories;
            (iii) the National Aeronautics and Space 
 Administration;
            (iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
            (v) the United States Fire Administration;
            (vi) the United States Geological Survey; 
 and
            (vii) any other relevant entity with 
 specialized expertise in wildland fire 
 research; and
            (D) support end-to-end applications that assist 
 wildland fire management agencies in adopting 
 technologies and incorporating research findings 
 produced by the regional centers.

    (4) Meetings.--
        (A) Board meetings.--The Board shall meet 
 quarterly.
        (B) Public meetings.--
            (i) In general.--The Board shall hold 
 public meetings with affected stakeholders to 
 solicit information from the general public 
 regarding the development and implications of 
 wildland fire research.
            (ii) Frequency.--Not less frequently than 
 annually, the Board shall hold at least one 
 public meeting in each State covered by a 
 region described in subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) .

    (5) Term.--A member of the Board shall be appointed for a 
 term of 4 years, except that of the members first appointed, 
 the Secretary shall ensure that approximately--
        (A) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 4 
 years;
        (B) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 3 
 years; and
            (C) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 2 
 years.

    (6) Vacancies.--
        (A) In general.--A vacancy on the Board--
            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
 Board; and
            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
 the original appointment was made by not later 
 than 180 days after the date on which the 
 vacancy occurs.
        (B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
 to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
 term of the member replaced.

    (7) Recommendations.--Not less frequently than annually, 
 the Board shall submit to the Secretary and the Council 
 recommendations to improve wildland fire research to be 
 included in the report described in subsection

    (e) .
            (d) Advisory Boards.--

    (1) In general.--There is established an advisory board at 
 each regional center, to be known as the ``Regional Advisory 
 Board''.

    (2) Composition.--
        (A) In general.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall 
 consist of members from, or with responsibility 
 covering, the region covered by the relevant regional 
 center, including at minimum--
            (i) one regional representative from each 
 wildland fire management agency, appointed by 
 that agency;
            (ii) one representative from the Council, 
 appointed by the Council;
            (iii) one representative from a State 
 government agency from each State located in 
 that region, appointed by the Governor of that 
 State;
            (iv) one representative from an Indian 
 Tribe or Tribal organization from that region, 
 elected under subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (II) ; and
            (v) additional representatives elected 
 under subparagraph
        (B)
            (ii) 
            (II) .
        (B) Elected membership.--
            (i) Tribal membership.--
            (I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional 
 Advisory Board shall solicit and 
 approve, on at least an annual basis, 
 nominations for individuals from 
 organizations specified in subparagraph
        (A)
            (iv) to serve as a representative on 
 a subcommittee to the Regional Advisory 
 Board for the purposes of subclause
            (II) .
            (II) Election.--The subcommittee 
 described in subclause
            (I) for a 
 Regional Advisory Board shall elect, on 
 an annual basis, one member of the 
 subcommittee to serve as a member of 
 the Regional Advisory Board under 
 subparagraph
        (A)
            (iv) for an annual 
 term.
            (ii) Additional members.--
            (I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional 
 Advisory Board shall solicit and 
 approve, on at least an annual basis, 
 nominations for individuals with 
 operational expertise in wildland fire 
 mitigation and management to serve as a 
 representative on a subcommittee to the 
 Regional Advisory Board for the 
 purposes of subclause
            (II) , including 
 representatives from, as applicable--

    (aa) institutions of higher 
 education or land-grant 
 colleges and universities;

    (bb) nongovernmental 
 organizations;
            (cc) private industry;
            (dd) the wildland 
 firefighter community, 
 including organizations that 
 represent the interests of 
 wildland firefighters; and

    (ee) Southwest Ecological 
 Restoration Institutes 
 established under 

section 5

    (a) of the Southwest Forest Health 
 and Wildfire Prevention Act of 
 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704

    (a) ).
            (II) Election.--The subcommittee 
 described in subclause
            (I) for a 
 Regional Advisory Board may elect a 
 member or members of the subcommittee 
 to serve as a member of the Regional 
 Advisory Board under subparagraph
        (A)
            (v) for an annual term.

    (3) Compensation.--Each member of a Regional Advisory Board 
 shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

    (4) Duties.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall--
        (A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland 
 fire research between the relevant regional center and 
 Federal and State land management agencies in that 
 region;
        (B) communicate the operational needs of Federal 
 and State land management agencies and wildland fire 
 management agencies in that region to the relevant 
 regional center and to the Board;
            (C) advise, in coordination with the relevant 
 regional center, on research goals and objectives; and
            (D) assist the relevant regional center with the 
 dissemination of research outputs and data to Federal 
 and State land management agencies and wildland fire 
 management agencies in that region.

    (5) Meetings.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet 
 quarterly in conjunction with the Board meeting under 
 subsection
            (c) (4)
        (A) .

    (6) Term.--Unless specified otherwise, a member of a 
 Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.

    (7) Vacancies.--
        (A) In general.--A vacancy on a Regional Advisory 
 Board--
            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
 Regional Advisory Board; and
            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
 the original appointment was made by not later 
 than 180 days after the date on which the 
 vacancy occurs.
        (B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
 to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
 term of the member replaced.

    (e) Report on Wildland Fire Research.--Not later than each of 2 
years and 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary and the Council, in consultation with the Board, shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing--

    (1) the progress each regional center has made in the 
 development of wildland fire research; and

    (2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.

    (f) Consultation.--In carrying out the requirements of this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with--

    (1) Federal science agencies;

    (2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and

    (3) the Council.

    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--

    (1) In general.--
        (A) Regional centers.--For establishing and 
 administering the regional centers established under 
 subsection

    (a) , there is authorized to be 
 appropriated--
            (i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
            (iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
            (iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
            (v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.
        (B) Board.--For the Board established under 
 subsection
            (c) , there is authorized to be appropriated 
 $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

    (2) Eligible use of funds.--A regional center may use 
 amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of 
 appropriations under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) for construction or the 
 acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the 
 requirements of this Act.

    (3) Flexibility.--
        (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph
        (B) , the 
 Secretary shall adjust appropriations under paragraph

    (1) between the regional centers established under 
 subsection

    (a) as needed to account for differences in 
 administrative costs and research challenges specific 
 to a particular region.
        (B) Notice.--Before adjusting appropriations under 
 subparagraph
        (A) for a fiscal year, the Administrator 
 shall--
            (i) include that adjustment in the budget 
 justification materials submitted by the 
 Administrator and the Chief in support of the 
 budget of the President (as submitted to 
 Congress under 

section 1105 of title 31, United 
 States Code) for that fiscal year; and
            (ii) provide notice of that adjustment to 
 the appropriate committees of Congress.

    (4) Transfer of funds.--A Federal science agency may 
 transfer, as necessary, additional appropriated amounts to a 
 regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire 
 research described in subsection

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) .
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